The knitting is done on my Sprout Cardigan!
This is the knitted piece all laid out flat. I was a proper knitter and washed/blocked the piece before attempting to seam it. Being that this is acrylic I’m not sure that it helped any, lol. But I really want this piece to turn out. So what could it hurt?
This is what the back of the garment should look like after seaming. 
Project info:
Pattern: Sprout Cardigan
Yarn: Berroco Comfort Chunky
Size: Medium
Needle: US 9s
I have had the urge lately to use some of the “special” and/or “new” yarn in my stash. My pull towards projects of late has been more fiber based than pattern based.
Case in point: awhile back I purchased a sweaters worth of Berroco Comfy Chunky in a pumpkin color. It’s a bulky acrylic blend with a VERY soft feel. My pregnancy brain has not lent itself to very complicated patterns so I perused my Rav queue and found this lovery: Sprout Cardigan by Classic Elite Yarns!
(photo credit to @Classic Elite Yarns)
I printed the pattern and pulled out the yarn. I opted for a long tail cast on and slipped stitch edges for a smooth look. Not to mention both will help with seaming later.
I’m using my US 9 Knit Picks Nickel inter-changeables. This yarn can be a bit “splitty” if you untwist it as it made up of multiple single plies. The sharp points to my needles help quite a bit. I’m working on the first piece and this garter stitch is great for TV knitting and car knitting!
I’m super excited for this sweater this fall. I’m hoping it will be a figure friendly addition to my wardrobe as my bump is HUGE in October and then as I transition back to my pre-baby body. I just can’t get over how cute this is belted!
Happy Wednesday!
I finally have a FO to show!!! 2014 Stashbustin’ #12 is in the books!
Pattern: Assisted Hatchling by Elizabeth Ditchburn Dew
Size: 3 months
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda
Needles: US 8 circulars and US 8 DPNs
I used 217.7 yards of yarn or about 117 grams. This was just over half of one skein of yarn. The pattern is free and well written. I would definitely make this one again. My bind off at the hem went kind of wonky. Even blocking didn’t fix it all the way. Can’t decide if it bothers me enough to rip out and redo, lol. I do love the open neck detail that makes sure it fits over babies big noggin.
Now I just need to add buttons at the next. Nothing in my “button stash” fits the character of this garment. So I need to go shopping. Or….I’m seriously considering snaps. How easy would those be for a new mommy to fasten!? Any thoughts from the blogging world?
My knitting has been few and far between lately. But before I lost my knitting mojo, I did make some good progress on my Assisted Hatching sweater…
For a memory refresher, you can find the pattern here. I’m making the smallest size using Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda. My cast off edge at the bottom has quite a bit of curl….I may or may not rip it out and re-do it. I can’t decide yet. Next up, sleeves!!
I do love the side vent opening for baby’s big noggin. What a great way to get a good fit and not smush baby’s face as it’s going on!
Happy Knitting!
It’s WIP Wendesday!!!
Bolstered by yesterday’s gorgeous sweater and a ginormous case of start-itis, I cast on another baby sweater. Baby fever + start-itis = more WIPs than my husband can handle!
But how can you resist this? Assisted Hatching by Elizabeth Ditchburn Dew….
(Photo credit to © kitchenerstitch and the Assisted Hatching Rav pg)
I’m really glad I have two sets of interchangeable needles, lol…..because I have already made good progress on this sweater!
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda
Needles: US 8 circs (Denise Interchangeable)
Size: 0-3 months
Happy Knitting!!!
After yesterday’s disappointment I had the itch to try a different baby sweater. And having recently pruned and tagged my Rav queue, I did some easy and organized searching to find….Henry’s Sweater
(Photo credit to © jennicole01 and the Henry’s Sweater Rav pg)
This is similar to the Sophisticate with the stockinette and shawl collar. But it has more overlap on the chest and those adorable 4 buttons laid out in a square. I couldn’t wait to get started!
Yarn: Bernat Cottontots in Country Taupe (I think this yarn has been discontinued and it’s a shame because it’s a very soft cotton and easy to work with!)
Needles: US 8s (Knits Picks Options Interchangeable)
Size: 3-6 months
Mods: None yet but I love the pattern so far!
Happy Knitting!
I finished my Simple Baby Pullover this week…..but something went terribly wonky. My sweater is huge!
Pattern: A Simple Baby Pullover by Erica Kempf
Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio
Needles: US 8
Size: 0-3 months (But this didn’t turn out)
Now, before you ask, I didn’t swatch for gauge. But this is a yarn and needle size I use a lot so I was comfortable skipping that step. Now I don’t know if I should have done that or if something in the pattern is wonky. The pattern is the same for all sizes in the beginning when you are working the yoke section. The larger sizes get more raglan increases than the smaller sizes. And of course the lengths are different.
I should have come out with a 17 1/2 in chest. I came up with a whopping 22 inches (1-2 yr size). Then the pattern wanted me to work to a total sweater length of 8 inches. Well with my width that would have made this sweater a baby midriff, lol! So I worked to a total of 11 inches to match the 1-2 size that my chest measurement came out to.
I should have only used 1 or so skeins of yarn. But I consumed 2 full skeins! That translates to 206 yard or 170 grams. I had plenty enough yarn so it wasn’t a huge deal.
It’s a pretty FO, but I was disappointed. Not sure if I did something wrong or the pattern needs to be adjusted for yarn/guage? I noticed on Ravelry (after the fact) that there were a lot mods in other’s projects. But at least 121 other people have worked this sweater so it can’t be all bad!
My verdict? It’s a nice sweater but not a pattern I would knit again. I have some others in my queue that need testing….(rubbing her hands like a disney villian)…..
Happy Knitting!
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I’m on a HUGE baby sweater kick. Most notably, Baby Sophisticates (evidenced here and here)
Well I decided to switch it up and try something new!
Pattern: A Simple Baby Pullover by Erica Kempf
Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio (I like to knit baby knits out of cotton or acrylic so new mom’s don’t have to worry about hand-washing)
Needles: US 8s
Size: 0-3 Months
I love top down raglan construction. I could almost do this in my sleep now! I’ve already knit the yoke and divided for the sleeves. I think I will make one mod and knit short sleeves instead of long. I like to layer pieces and in my opinion give the mom/baby recipient a little more versatility and longevity of the sweater. (Not to mention I get to be finished and pet the adorable FO even faster!)
I also find the the garter rib detail of the partial button band adorable. It’s a wee bit messy because I’m not the best at button holes). Not to mention this design detail helps the sweater fit over the giant noggins most babies tend to have. This button band does mean you have to work back and forth for the “yoke” section for awhile. But never fear, it joins in the round soon enough!
Happy Knitting!
Embolded by my swatches and encouraged by a dear friend, I finally cast on for Antrose!
I’m working the garter ribbed collar. It’s back and forth, so no purls but lots and lots of knits! I opted to use lifted M1R and M1L increases instead of the KFB increases. With my tension and style….they just look better to me.
I have to admit, I had never done the Long Tail Cast On before (even though patterns clearly called for it). So I put my big girl pants on and went to YouTube….ITS SO EASY! Here’s the link I used. It so clean looking and makes such a nice stretchy edge! I did have to take several swings at it before I let out enough yarn in the beginning to make all the cast on stitches, lol.
Now, just a few thousand more stitches before I have a finished sweater! I’m liking the Lion Brand Heartland yarn….although it can be “splitty” at times. And have tinked a few stitches and I could see how this yarn wouldn’t stand up to prolonged frogging. But it’s very soft and creates a nice fabric.
What’s on your needles this Wednesday?
I seem to be addicted to baby sweaters lately….baby fever anyone?!?
Pattern: Baby Sophisticate – Free by Linden Down
Needles: US 8s
Yarn: Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio (190.6 yards, 157 grams, or 1.85 skeins)
Size: 12 months
Mods: I knit short sleeves by working the garter rib right after separating for the sleeves. I also knit the button band solid with no button holes. I just wanted something that would look great thrown over a long tee to keep baby snugly!
Into the baby shower stash this goes! I love this pattern, but I will admit by the end of this project I was ready for a different pattern….
Happy Knitting!
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